Skip advert
Advertisement

Mercedes EQC axed: company’s first electric SUV bites the dust after only five years on sale

Launched in 2019 as Mercedes’ first mainstream EV, the EQC has been axed without a replacement in the wings

Mercedes EQC - front cornering

After struggling to compete with the latest electric SUVs for the past few years, the Mercedes EQC has been dropped from the company’s range. 

First previewed in 2016 by the Concept EQ and then put into production in 2019, the EQC was Mercedes’ first crack at a mainstream EV and its first pure-electric SUV of any kind. However, it was rushed to market and didn’t use a bespoke electric car platform; instead, the EQC was based on the combustion-engined GLC

Advertisement - Article continues below

This resulted in compromises in several key areas, such as range – which was limited to 255 miles – efficiency and interior space. It also led to the EQC weighing around two-and-a-half tonnes. This all meant the EQC quickly became overshadowed when newer rivals emerged. 

Competition was limited when the EQC first launched, and really only included the Audi e-tron (now Q8 e-tron), Jaguar I-Pace (also going out of production soon) and Tesla Model X (no longer available in right-hand drive). The BMW iX3 and iX arrived a few years later, while other alternatives like the Porsche Macan Electric, Audi Q6 e-tron and Polestar 4 all launched recently. 

We’ve already spotted the replacement for the EQC out and about testing, however it’s not due to go on sale until sometime in 2025. Buyers looking for an electric Mercedes SUV are still fairly well catered for in the meantime, with the closest alternative to the EQC being the EQE SUV, which does use a bespoke EV platform and features the company’s latest technology.

The EQC’s forthcoming replacement is unlikely to wear the same name, as Mercedes is also dropping the EQ branding for its electric cars. However, the official name of the new model has yet to be revealed.

What would you call the new electric Mercedes SUV? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section below...

Skip advert
Advertisement
News reporter

As our news reporter, Ellis is responsible for covering everything new and exciting in the motoring world, from quirky quadricycles to luxury MPVs. He was previously the content editor for DrivingElectric and won the Newspress Automotive Journalist Rising Star award in 2022.

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

New electric Mercedes GLC to arrive in 2026 and fill the old EQC's void
New Mercedes GLC Electric - front 3/4

New electric Mercedes GLC to arrive in 2026 and fill the old EQC's void

This new electric GLC will replace the former EQC and sit alongside the existing ICE GLC in Merc’s range
News
28 Feb 2025
Used Mercedes EQC (Mk1, 2019-2024) buyer’s guide: premium EV has its compromises
Used Mercedes EQC - front

Used Mercedes EQC (Mk1, 2019-2024) buyer’s guide: premium EV has its compromises

A full used buyer’s guide on the all-electric Mercedes EQC that was on sale between 2019 and 2024
Used car tests
13 Jul 2024

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price
BMW X7 - front

Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price

German firm’s flagship SUV could never be called cheap but it is exceptional value at £735 a month – making it our Deal of the Day for Sunday 27 April
News
27 Apr 2025
New Volkswagen ID.3 Match 2025 review: attractive price boosts EV’s appeal
Volkswagen ID.3 Pure Match - front

New Volkswagen ID.3 Match 2025 review: attractive price boosts EV’s appeal

The value-focused Volkswagen ID.3 Match performs well and is easy to live with
Road tests
28 Apr 2025